http://www.hoopsnewsblog.com Updated with the latest NBA News! Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:52:22 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Showtime is about to have a whole new meaning for Magic Johnson. The story of the NBA Hall of Famer's rivalry and friendship with Larry Bird is coming to Broadway in "Magic/Bird," set to open in April. The two consulted in its production, and Johnson can't wait to watch their ... http://www.hoopsnewsblog.com/2012/02/08/magicbird-set-to-open-on-broadway-ap/ The Madison Square Garden Co. said Wednesday that the shortened NBA season drove its second-quarter profit down nearly 22 percent The lockout delayed the start of the regular basketball season by about two months. As a result, the New York Knicks only played a combined six preseason and regular season ... http://www.hoopsnewsblog.com/2012/02/08/msg-has-major-profit-drop-due-to-lockout-ap/ All-Star Blake Griffin and rookie guards Kyrie Irving and Ricky Rubio headline the list of 18 players chosen for the Rising Stars Challenge to be held during All-Star weekend. In this year's new format, first- and second-year players will be mixed in the game on Friday, Feb. 24 in Orlando. ... http://www.hoopsnewsblog.com/2012/02/08/griffin-irving-top-rising-stars-roster-ap/ NBA Commissioner David Stern doesn't think Dwight Howard's uncertain future will overshadow the All-Star game in Orlando in three weeks. The commissioner spoke Wednesday in Houston, where he officially announced that the All-Star Game would be held there in 2013. Houston hosted the league's All-Star weekend in 2006, and the ... http://www.hoopsnewsblog.com/2012/02/08/stern-howard-wont-overshadow-all-stars-ap/ Clippers guard Chauncey Billups says he won't let his season-ending injury also finish his NBA career. Billups tore his left Achilles tendon on Monday night, ending his first season with Los Angeles. He said the injury has left him "deflated" but he's confident the Clippers will be able to survive ... http://www.hoopsnewsblog.com/2012/02/08/billups-injury-wont-end-my-career-ap/ Kevin Durant hit a go-ahead bank shot with 14.2 seconds remaining, and the NBA-leading Oklahoma City Thunder overcame career performances by Monta Ellis and David Lee to beat the Golden State Warriors 119-116 on Tuesday night. Durant finished with 33 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, and Russell Westbrook added ... http://www.hoopsnewsblog.com/2012/02/08/thunder-survive-ellis-48-beat-warriors-ap/ What a way for Steve Nash to celebrate his 38th birthday. It wasn't a bad homecoming for Michael Redd, either. Nash hit a driving layup to give Phoenix the lead with 5 seconds left and Redd scored 14 points in his first game against his former team as the Suns ... http://www.hoopsnewsblog.com/2012/02/07/nashs-late-layup-on-birthday-lifts-suns-ap/ Danny Granger sat at his locker, worn out and tired. He was dragging all day after taking medicine to help him get some rest, but it may have been too much for the Indiana Pacers forward. "It just slowed me down basically the whole time," Granger said. "It was supposed ... http://www.hoopsnewsblog.com/2012/02/07/granger-has-12-in-4th-as-pacers-top-jazz-ap/ One stingy defensive stretch was enough to carry the Miami Heat past LeBron James' former team once again. Might have gotten the Heat prepped for a daunting road stretch as well. Dwyane Wade scored 26 points, James added 24 and the Heat said farewell to their home floor for nearly ... http://www.hoopsnewsblog.com/2012/02/07/james-has-24-as-heat-pull-away-from-cavs-ap/ Steve Nash hit a driving layup with 5 seconds left, giving the Phoenix Suns a 107-105 victory over Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night. Nash, who also celebrated his 38th birthday Tuesday, had 18 points and 11 assists. Michael Redd scored 14 points and came away with a win against his ... http://www.hoopsnewsblog.com/2012/02/07/nashs-late-layup-lifts-suns-past-bucks-ap/